‘Bionic skin’ could help robots interact

LOS ANGELES — Researchers have developed a “revolutionary” process for 3-D printing stretchable electronic sensory devices that could give robots the ability to feel their environment.

The discovery, published online in the journal AdvancedMaterials,isamajor step forward in printing electronics on real human skin, say researchers.

The new process was developed by engineers at the University of Minnesota in the United States using a 3-D printer they built in a lab.

The multifunctional device is equipped with four nozzles to print different kinds of specialized “ink”.

These sensors can stretch up to three times their original size, according to the study.

“This stretchable electronic fabric we developed has many practical uses,” Michael McAlpine, a University of Minnesota mechanical engineering associate professor and lead researcher on the study, said in a statement.

“Putting this type of ‘bionic skin’ on surgical robots would give surgeons the ability to actually feel during minimally invasive surgeries, which would make surgery easier instead of just using cameras liketheydonow.Thesesensors could also make it easier for other robots to walk and interact with their environment.”

Researchers believe the new 3-D printing technique could also be used to print electronics directly on human skin. This ultimate wearable technology may could eventually be used for health monitoring or by soldiers in the field to detect dangerous chemicals or explosives.

Conventional 3-D printing using liquid plastic is too hot and too rigid to use on the skin. However, all the layers of “ink” used in this new technique can be set at room temperature, making for “endless” possible applications.

“This is a completely new way to approach 3-D printing of electronics,” McAlpine said. “This could take us into so many directions from health monitoring to energy harvesting to chemical sensing.”